Set your clocks, check your stocks when we spring forward this weekend

Oxford County’s Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks campaign encourages everyone to use the time change as a reminder to update the supplies in your emergency preparedness kit. We spring forward for daylight savings this Sunday, March 9, 2025.

While 72 hours is a good starting point for an emergency preparedness kit, consider it a minimum requirement. Assess your family needs and ensure your preparedness kit has everything you and your loved ones need to be ready during an emergency.

The coming months can bring unpredictable emergencies, including storms, floods and power outages. Ensure your emergency stockpile has enough food, water and supplies to last you and your family, including pets, for three days. Ensure your kit is not short on essential items, like first-aid supplies, and replace expired food and batteries. Update important documents, such as copies of identification, insurance policies, and emergency contact information. 

Time changes in the spring and fall are also a great time to remember to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. It is the law for all Ontario homes to have a working smoke alarm on every story and outside all sleeping areas. Carbon monoxide alarms are also mandatory for most homes in Ontario. Never toss old batteries in your curbside garbage. You can recycle old or leaky batteries for free at Oxford County Waste Management Facility or Woodstock’s EnviroDepot.

If you haven’t created an emergency kit, now is the time to do so. Visit www.oxford72hours.ca to find the emergency supplies checklist and read the top 5 things to do now.